Clasp for necklaces and the like



J. H. LU Z.

CLASP FOR NECKLACES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV'21. 1919.

1,347, 5 l 5. Patented July 27, 1920.

51 1 G Hot 110 l PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS H. LUTZ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CLASP FOR NECKLACES AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1920.

Application filed November 21, 1919. Serial No. 339,559.

I '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JULIUs H. LUTZ, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Bronx, county of Bronx, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps for Necklaces and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in clasps for necklaces and the like.

The primary object of my invention is to produce a clasp for necklaces and the like formed of two members which will, upon the insertion and movement of one of the members relatively to the other, automatically cause a positix e locking by a clutching element on one of the members with a looking groove on the opposite member, and which locking element is releasable from looking engagement with said groove by an axial relative turning of the members.

Another object of my invention is toproduce a clasp which will be exceedingly simple in construction and operation and which may be manufactured economically.

Another object of my invention is to produce a clasp comprising a shell or cylinder having an integral clutch or locking element and an insert member provided with a cooperating locking groove, and adapted upon an axial turning to cause a release of the locking element, preferably by rounding the bottom edges of the groove to form a lifting cam on the shank of the insert member 0pposite the groove therein.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the combination of members and arrangement of parts so combined as to co-act and cooperate with each other in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated, and comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section partly in elevation of a clasp embodying my invention applied to a necklace;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the clasp illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrow, showing the locked position of the parts;

Fig. 4 is a similar section showing the parts after an axial relative turning and a release thereof; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the clasp turned in position for releasing. Referring now to these drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, 1 indicates one member of my improved clasp which comprises, as shown, a

shell or caslng cylindrical in configuration provided, as illustrated, with a clutching or looking member 2 which, as shown, is formed integrally from a strip of metal from the side of the cylinder 1 by slotting the same as at 3 and bending down radially the end or nose 4 of the said strip of metal. The said cylindrical shell or casing 1 is, as shown, provided with an ear or lug 5 having a bore 6 in which may be inserted a ring 7 coni icted with the links of a necklace or the Adapted to slide within the cylinder 1 and also provided with an ear 8 and ring 9 is an lnsert member 10 which, as shown, is also cylindrical in conformation and is provided at its end with a rounded nose 11 and a groove 12 preferably formed intermediate the ends of the insert member and extending transversely of the axis of such member and at one side of a diameter of such member. This groove extends completely across the cylinder and is also provided, as shown, with rounded depressed walls 13 at opposite sides or edges so that alifting cam portion 14 is formed on the shank of the insert member at the opposite side of the groove 12. When the member 10 is inserted into the cylinder 1 the rounded nose 11 of the member 10 will first engage and lift the nose 4 of the clutch element 2, which will ride upon the upper surface thereof until the groove 12 is reached, when it will spring into the same and securely lock the insert member within the shell. When it is desired to release the clutch element and separate the parts, the shell member 1 and insert member 10 are turned axially in relation to each other whereupon one of the rounded faces 13 of the groove 12 will engage and lift the nose 4 upwardly out of locking engagement and permit an outward movement of the insert member and a separation of the parts.

Having described my invention claim 1. In a clasp for necklaces and the like, a casing member, an insert member adapted to be moved within the casing member, a

clutching element connected to one of said members and a groove in the other member having a cam portion adapted on axial turning to release the clutching element and permit the separation of the parts.

2. In a clasp for necklaces and the like, comprising a casing having a. clutching element provided with an inward radially-extending projection, of an insert member adapted to fit within said casing and having a rounded nose adapted upon insertion to lift the projection and also provided intermediate its ends with a groove adapted to receive the inward projection of said clutching element, said groove having walls adapted upon axial turning to engage and lift said projection to release the clutching member and permit separation of the parts.

3. In a clasp for necklaces and the like, comprising a casing having a clutching element provided with an inward radially extending projection, of an insert member adapted to be moved within said casing and having a rounded nose adapted upon insertion to lift the projection and also provided intermediate its ends with a groove adapted to receive the inward projection of said clutching member, said groove having Walls forming with the shank ofsaid insert memher a cam portion adapted, upon axial turning of the said insert member, to engage and lift said projection to release the clutching member and permit separation of the parts.

4. In a clasp for necklaces and the like, comprising a casing having a clutching element provided with an inward radially extending projection, of an insert member adapted to be moved within said casing and having a rounded nose adapted upon insertion to lift the projection and also provided intermediate its ends with a groove adapted to receive the inward projection of said clutching member, said groove extending completely across the cylindrical shank of said insert member and having rounded bottom walls forming in the opposite side of the shank of the said insert member a cam portion adapted upon axial turning of said member to engage and lift the clutch to release the parts.

In witness whereof I have signed my name to the foregoing s ecification.

J LIUS H. LUTZ. 

